Associate Professor
Biology
Nurse Anesthesia Practice | DNAP
Office
Nicolaus Copernicus Hall
347
Or by appointment
Biography

I am a neuroscientist interested in studying the retinal physiology.  Current projects in my lab utilize multiple techniques to approach basic science questions.  The focus is to assess how visual cues affect behavior patterns in crustaceans.

Education
Neuroscience
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2013
Neuroscience
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2009
Biology
New York University
2004
Biology and Chemistry
New York University
2002
Areas of Expertise

Research Areas of Interest:

Neuroscience

Behavior

Retina

Serotonin 

Ion Channel Physiology

Techniques:

Behavioral studies

Immunohistochemistry

Confocal Microscopy

Electrophysiology

Publications, Research & Presentations
  • Abbas, SY, and Fleckenstein, S. Introduction to Biology Lab Manual 3rd Ed. Iowa: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2017. Print.
  • Abbas SY, Hamade KC, Yang EJ, Nawy S, Smith RG, Pettit DL. Directional Summation in non-Direction Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells. PLoS Computational Biololgy. 2013 Mar;9(3):e1002969.
  • Ying SW, Tibbs GR, Picollo A, Abbas SY, Sanford RL, Accardi A, Hofmann F, Ludwig A, Goldstein PA. PIP2-mediated HCN3 channel gating is crucial for rhythmic burst firing in thalamic intergeniculate leaflet neurons. J Neurosci. 2011 Jul 13;31(28):10412-23.
  • Nogueira MI, Abbas SY, Campos LG, Allemandi W, Lawson P, Takada SH, Azmitia EC. S100beta protein expression: gender- and age-related daily changes. Neurochem Res. 2009 Aug;34(8):1355-62.
  • Abbas SY, Nogueira MI, Azmitia EC. Antagonist-induced increase in 5-HT1A-receptor expression in adult rat hippocampus and cortex. Synapse. 2007 Jul; 61(7):531-9.
  • Ying SW, Jia F, Abbas SY, Hofmann F, Ludwig A, Goldstein PA. Dendritic HCN2 channels constrain glutamate-driven excitability in reticular thalamic neurons. J Neurosci. 2007 Aug 8;27(32):8719-32.
  • Abbas SY, Ying SW, Goldstein PA. Compartmental distribution of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel 2 and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel 4 in thalamic reticular and thalamocortical relay neurons. Neuroscience. 2006 Sep 15;141(4):1811-25.
  • Ying SW, Abbas SY, Harrison NL, Goldstein PA. Propofol block of I(h) contributes to the suppression of neuronal excitability and rhythmic burst firing in thalamocortical neurons. Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Jan;23(2):465-80.
Awards & Grants
  • Excellence in Teaching Award; Honor Roll. CCSU 2021
  • 2022 Curriculum Development Grant
  • 2022-2023 AAUP Faculty Research Grant
  • 2021-2022 AAUP Faculty Research Grant
  • 2020-2021 AAUP Faculty Research Grant
  • 2019-2020 AAUP Faculty Research Grant
  • 2019-2020 AAUP Winter Curriculum Development Grant
Memberships & Affiliations
Courses Taught

Courses taught:

BIO122 General Biology II Laboratory 

BIO122 General Biology II Lecture 

BIO/BMS 318 Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture

BIO/BMS 318 Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory

BIO/BMS 319 Anatomy and Physiology II Lecture

BIO/BMS 319 Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory

BIO 331 Neurobiology

BIO 390 Biology Research Experience II

BIO 391 Internship in Biology

BIO/BMS 413 Human Physiology Lab

BIO 517 Advanced Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology

BIO 591 Independent Research Project in Advanced Biology

BIO 599 Thesis

HON 441 Writing & Research III: Honors Thesis